[Mt-blind] The Coming Cris

[Jerry Hutch]

That is all well and good if you are in the workforce.  You can get your 
employer to pay for the necessary programs.   What about the persons 
that are not employed or who are retired and on a fixed income .  
Shouldn't they have access also?  This is how some in society are being 
denied access.  As for changing technology , not all changes are for the 
better.  Features are added that persons seldom use but are forced to 
pay for because it is all bundled together.  A user doesn't have the 
ability to pick and choose. 

While I was a leader in Scouting, there was a phrase that was often used 
"KIS,S" ("Keep It Simple, Stupid").

Jerry

Jim Marks wrote:

>Thanks, Jerry!  The thing about assistive technology is that one never quite arrives at where one wants to be.  Technology changes constantly, and it's quite a chore to keep up.  Also, there is more to learn and use than any single person can ever master.  I tend to think of assistive technology as an ongoing investment of my cash and time.  Some of my original technology came from Montana Blind-Low Vision Services, but that was 30 years ago, and technology ages out within six months sometimes.  I also used the NFB technology loan money to help me get started.  Today, I use my own resources or those from work.  Thank goodness for the civil rights laws that require employers to cover reasonable accommodations.  I love the technology, though.  It's fun to figure things out and to make them work well.
> 
>Jim Marks
>blind.grizzly at GMail.com
> 
>From:
>Jerry Hutch [mailto:modrepro at mt.net]
>Sent:
>Wednesday, October 24, 2007 2:45 PM
>To:
>blind.grizzly at gmail.com; Montana Association for the Blind List
>Subject:
>Re: [Mt-blind] The Coming Cris
>Jim,
>My reasons for posting this is the number of blind and visually impaired is only going to grow in number.  And that the price for assistive technology is extremely high in cost.  Our access to the world depends on having a computer, for email, for the news , to access information and to stay informed .  But not everyone can afford screen readers and screen magnifiers.   And when you purchase a program, it must be installed on only one machine, you can not carry it with you.  The programs that are currently being sold can not be accessed from a thumb drive and used, but not installed, on any computer that a person walks up to, in a library , in a friends home, at work or at any other location.  This message was not posted to promote any brand or type or manufacture of screen readers but to start people thinking how and where you want your technology to be, with you or stuck in your home.
>Ted suggested a free program,
>"For a newly Blind individual who has any initiative, they can download at no cost, except for the cost of computer etc. Just go to: > http://WWW.screenreader.net WWW.screenreader.net
>"
>and Jim Aldrich suggested
>"many here could benefit from System Access to go. One can give it a free thirty day trial if they wish. Go to: http://www.satogo.com http://www.satogo.com "
>So, this discussion may have opened some doors for those who are looking for an alternative to the more commonly known products that are in the marketplace. Just for your thoughts and comments.
> 
>
>  
>
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>
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>Mt-blind at nfbnet.org
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That is all well and good if you are in the workforce.  You can get your employer to pay for the necessary programs.   What about the persons that are not employed or who are retired and on a fixed income .  Shouldn't they have access also?  This is how some in society are being denied access.  As for changing technology , not all changes are for the better.  Features are added that persons seldom use but are forced to pay for because it is all bundled together.  A user doesn't have the ability to pick and choose. 
While I was a leader in Scouting, there was a phrase that was often used "KIS,S" ("Keep It Simple, Stupid").
Jerry
Jim Marks wrote:
Thanks, Jerry!  The thing about assistive technology is that one never quite arrives at where one wants to be.  Technology changes constantly, and it's quite a chore to keep up.  Also, there is more to learn and use than any single person can ever master.  I tend to think of assistive technology as an ongoing investment of my cash and time.  Some of my original technology came from Montana Blind-Low Vision Services, but that was 30 years ago, and technology ages out within six months sometimes.  I also used the NFB technology loan money to help me get started.  Today, I use my own resources or those from work.  Thank goodness for the civil rights laws that require employers to cover reasonable accommodations.  I love the technology, though.  It's fun to figure things out and to make them work well.   Jim Marks mailto:blind.grizzly at GMail.com blind.grizzly at GMail.com
  From: Jerry Hutch [ mailto:modrepro at mt.net mailto:modrepro at mt.net
] Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 2:45 PM To: mailto:blind.grizzly at gmail.com blind.grizzly at gmail.com
; Montana Association for the Blind List Subject: Re: [Mt-blind] The Coming Cris Jim, My reasons for posting this is the number of blind and visually impaired is only going to grow in number.  And that the price for assistive technology is extremely high in cost.  Our access to the world depends on having a computer, for email, for the news , to access information and to stay informed .  But not everyone can afford screen readers and screen magnifiers.   And when you purchase a program, it must be installed on only one machine, you can not carry it with you.  The programs that are currently being sold can not be accessed from a thumb drive and used, but not installed, on any computer that a person walks up to, in a library , in a friends home, at work or at any other location.  This message was not posted to promote any brand or type or manufacture of screen readers but to start people thinking how and where you want your technology to be, with you or stuck in your home. Ted suggested a free program, "For a newly Blind individual who has any initiative, they can download at no cost, except for the cost of computer etc. Just go to: > http://WWW.screenreader.net http://WWW.screenreader.net
http://WWW.screenreader.net WWW.screenreader.net
" and Jim Aldrich suggested "many here could benefit from System Access to go. One can give it a free thirty day trial if they wish. Go to: http://www.satogo.com http://www.satogo.com
http://www.satogo.com http://www.satogo.com
" So, this discussion may have opened some doors for those who are looking for an alternative to the more commonly known products that are in the marketplace. Just for your thoughts and comments.  
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